Sagina 1974

Sagina is a 1974 Indian Bollywood social, musical, family drama film released on Jul 26, 1974. The film is directed by Tapan Sinha, produced by J. K. Kapoor.

This story happened in the period of 1942-43, the time when the British Empire was breathing its last. It shows the fascist cause as well. Sagina Mahato (Dilip Kumar) is a worker who has always raised his voice against harrassment. He also raises his voice against the British Company Management. Lalita (Saira Banu) also helps him in his mission. Gurum (Om Prakash) who had worked for the last 30 years in the company, was removed from service as he refused to supply girls to the management. One company officer rapes Sagina's friend fiancee. These two incidents make Sagina declare a strike. The Socialist national leader Aniruddha Babu (Marul) and Vishakha (Aparna Sen) also join the movement. Aniruddha Babu appoints Sagina as a 'Welfare Officer' and signs an agreement which contains the demands of the workers. In reality, however, the agreement does not help the workers in improving their day to day problems. There is a loss of power for Aniruddha Babu. Vishakha murders Aniruddha Babu .Then Sagina wearied with charges against him and with the help of Lalita, continues the movement.

SAGINA is a worker. Hence the fight for the rights of the workers is neither his hobby or profession-it his life. He demands respect and dignity for the labour and in the process clashes with the top management of an English company. As the story unfolds against the backdrop of World War II, it turns into direct confrontation with the British Government. But either the British employer succeeds in buys Sagina over nor the British police is able to make a dent in the unity of labour. . Sagina emerges as the symbol of the hopes and aspirations of the working class. This makes the professional politicians of Calcutta nervous and jittery. Hence they decide to use the growing popularity of Sagina to further their own selfish ends. And thus professional politics along with all its dirty appendage enters the labour basti in the person of Anurodh where Sagina is fighting relentlessly for the rights of the working class. The employers also do not sit idle. With the help of their hirelings they try to break the unity of the labour and thus the fight becomes a triangle drama and like a pear it pierces the heart of the basti. Anurodh is afraid of the popularity of Sagina and tries to creat a rift between Sagina and workers. Anurodh realise that until such time a Saginas stature is not lowered in the eyes of the workers. Anurodh realises that until such timeas Saginas stature is not lowered in the eyes of the workers he would not become a puppet in his hands. Anurodh, therefore, persuades Sagina to move to Calcutta as a labour leader. Lalita pleads with Sagina not to fall in the trap of Anurodhs manouvers. But she fails because Sagina is blinded by the make believe sincerity of Anurodh. Sagina does not realise that Anurodh has no sympathy for the workers and that he is using them for his own selfish ends. . As soon as Sagina moves away from the basti, the management terrorises the workers. A large number of the workers are retrenched and humiliated. The hirelings of the company start a whispering campaign against Sagina that he is an agent of the company and if he had any sympathy for workers he would not be gaving good time enjoying in Calcutta. . When Sagina returns to the basti he finds that he has been duped. Everyone is against him. Except for Lalita there is no one who would soothe him. And then it dawn on him that the self-styled revolutionaries like Anurodh are as much the enemies of the working class as the company and professional politicans. . He decides to fight against both of them. . DOES he win this war? . Does he loose it? . You would know the answer in SAGINA [Source: Booklet] Check out this page for more updates on Sagina.